2020 mainly feels like one long lockdown blur. During this time I was fortunate enough to be asked to document how Welwyn Garden City businesses adapted during, and after the pandemic.
Its strange to think back to such an unpredictable time now. Every day the rules seemed to change. There was a short period jusy before Christmas when Welwyn Garden City found itself in tier 3. This meant shops reopened and businesses immediately tried to make up for a challenging financial year.
HOW WELWYN GARDEN CITY SHOPS ADAPTED
At this time I visited the award-winning Stonehills and Ashley Charles hair salons in Welwyn Garden City. At a time when everyone rushed with urgency to get a hairdressing appointment after months of at DIY haircare. They found themselves inundated.
But strict rules still applied and safety and the wellbeing of everyone was essential. Most importantly the Salons wanted to show customers they could return, and all measure were in place to keep staff and customers safe.
Both salons are located in Welwyn Garden City’s busy town centre and are very popular with the local community. The salons wanted to reassure their loyal customer base they were open and ready for bookings.
Staff wore PPE, screens were in place and customers wore masks. Within days of an anxious re-opening, everyone relaxed and the new ‘norm’ seemed – well, completely normal.
HERTFORDSHIRE PHOTOGRAPHER
As a Hertfordshire photographer, it is my job to document events. Usually, these are weddings or special family events, or for businesses. During tier 3 in Hertfordshire, I was able to photograph several local small businesses who wanted to promote their services and products.
Looking back it seems like a lifetime ago now. But an important lesson in how all businesses large and small needed to quickly adapt to have a chance of surviving.
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